Harrogate Borough Council has told the owners of Blues Bar that its outdoor tables on the Stray must be removed by Monday.
The news has come as a shock to owners Simon and Sharon Colgan, who were yesterday told that the tables and chairs could remain outside their other bar, The Empress, on Stray land.
However, the council said it would allow the Empress’s tables to remain in place because there was no suitable alternative. For the Blues Bar, it advised using the pavement directly outside the bar, rather than the grass opposite.
Sharon said:
“There’s absolutely no reason for this, I don’t understand at all. On Monday, it’s meant to be a lovely day and we aren’t able to put the tables and chairs out. We can only get 20 people inside in a covid-friendly way – how are we going to make any money?
Mrs Colgan said she had heard other bars had been told they could keep their tables out on the grass throughout September and questioned why the Blues Bar was different.
Read more:
- More than 2,000 call for council to leave tables outside Harrogate bars
- Outdoor tables set to remain at Empress Bar
A spokesperson from Harrogate Borough Council said:
‘The location of the Empress public house does not make a pavement licence a practical solution. Therefore, we have worked hard to provide them with a temporary licence that allows them to use an area on the Stray and maintain social distancing. A positive outcome that the pub is happy with.
“The Blues Bar is fortunate that it does have a pavement licence and can use the space in front of its premises. Something they are already doing.
“This means we can ensure the grassed area remains in excellent condition for all to enjoy.”
The couple had initially been allowed to use outside space as part of a loosening of restrictions to help hospitality businesses cater safely for more customers. However, they were told last week that they had until yesterday to remove the outdoor furniture, after a letter from the council telling them that they can no longer use Stray land.
They called upon the council to reverse the decision, and gathered more than 3,000 signatures in a petition against it.
Yesterday, the council held a meeting with the owners and agreed to provide a temporary licence for the outside space at The Empress to enable social distancing. Four picnic benches and some bistro tables will be allowed on the Stray.
The couple were told at the time that Blues Bar was still under review, and today they received an email from the council denying permission for the tables to remain outside.
They have now been asked to remove them by Monday, and reminded that any chairs and tables left out over night should be removed from the grass while the bars are closed.
